First-Year Applicants

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This section is for applicants who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, refugees or asylees only. First-year applicants who have completed (or will soon complete) secondary school coursework and have not yet attended college or university. Students applying for admission may choose between the following applications:

$55 (U.S.) nonrefundable application fee (Vermont first-year applicants who apply by November 1 under Early Action will have their application fee waived).

Entrance Requirements

UVM welcomes applications from talented students. Through a holistic admissions review, we select students with strong potential for academic success who will contribute to our community. The rigor of an applicant’s academic program; class standing and grades; standardized test results; and trends in performance are considered. Essays, recommendations, and other evidence of each student’s life experience also assist our evaluation. Admission decisions are made without regard to family financial circumstances.

All applicants must complete the following requirements prior to enrolling at UVM (one college semester generally substitutes for one high school year). Please review these minimum requirements, as well as additional requirements (below) for each of our undergraduate schools and colleges. Note: all applicants apply to one of our seven undergraduate schools and colleges according to their selected major.

Minimum entrance requirements

four years of English

three years of mathematics (Algebra I, Algebra II and geometry (or equivalents)

two years of the same foreign language (American sign language meets this requirement)

three years of a natural or physical science, including a laboratory science

three years of social sciences

Course work not completed at the high school level may be fulfilled by equivalent college-level academic work. In general, one semester of college work is considered equal to one year of high school study. Any exceptions to these requirements are made on a case-by-case basis.

Admitted Student Profile

Class ranking* of students admitted for Fall 2017

Top 10%: 39%

Top 25%: 77%

*34% attended high schools reporting exact class rank.

SAT/ACT Score Ranges for Middle 50% of Admitted Students*

SAT EBRW: 600-690

SAT Math: 590-680

ACT: 27-32

*Information regarding SAT Score Choice and ACT Super Scoring:UVM considers your highest section scores across all SAT and ACT dates submitted. Applicants are encouraged to send scores from every SAT or ACT test date in which they received a top score in each section. Final admissions decisions are based only on your highest section scores, and UVM updates applicant records each time we receive new scores.

AP, IB, CLEP and credit for other courses/exams taken

To learn about credit given for Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and other courses/exams taken in high school, visit our section on transferring other credits.

Requirements and/or Recommendations by UVM Schools/Colleges

When applying to UVM, all applicants apply to one of the following seven schools or colleges. Additional entrance requirements or recommendations for each are listed here:

Agriculture and Life Sciences

Required: One year of biology and one year of chemistry for science majors

Recommended: Candidates are strongly encouraged to take one year of physics and at least one year of math beyond Algebra II (precalculus/calculus is preferred).

Arts and Sciences

Recommended: Course work across the span of liberal arts disciplines; four years of math, including trigonometry; foreign language study all four years of high school.

Note to music majors: Candidates for entry into UVM as a music major seeking the B.A. or the B.Mus. degree must pass an audition as part of the process (except concentrations in Music Business and Technology).

Grossman School of Business

Required: Four years of math with high achievement, including at least one year beyond Algebra II. Trigonometry, precalculus, or calculus preferred.

Education and Social Services

Recommended: One year of biology for Human Development and Family Studies and Social Work majors. Math and science course work beyond the minimum for teacher education majors.

Note to music educations majors: Candidates for entry into UVM as a music education major seeking the B.S. degree must pass an audition as part of the process.

Engineering and Mathematical Sciences

Required: Four years of math, including trigonometry or precalculus. One year of chemistry and one year of physics for all engineering majors. All other majors: two years of a laboratory-based science.

The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources

Required: One year of biology and one year of chemistry or physics. Additional year of college preparatory math beyond Algebra II.

Nursing and Health Sciences

Required: One year of biology and one year of chemistry for all majors; four years of math, including trigonometry or pre-calculus.

Recommended: Additional science course work beyond chemistry and biology in the senior year of high school for all majors. One year of physics is recommended for Athletic Training, Exercise and Movement Science, Medical Radiation Sciences, and Medical Laboratory Science majors.

Important Codes for Applying

UVM College Board Code: 3920

ACT Code: 4322

FAFSA Title IV Code: 003696

TOEFL Code: 3920

There is no IELTS code; students taking this test should indicate the results be sent to:

University of Vermont
Office of Admissions
194 South Prospect Street
Burlington, VT 05401

Standardized Testing

Official SAT or ACT scores (official only if submitted directly from the testing agency)

Note: Applicants are encouraged to send scores from every SAT or ACT test date in which they received a top score in each section. UVM will accept SAT scores from tests prior to March 2016. Final admissions decisions are based only on your highest section scores, and UVM updates applicant records each time we receive new scores.

High School/Secondary School Information

Official high school transcript sent directly to Admissions by your high school

First quarter grades (For Early Action candidates only)

Mid-year grades

One letter of recommendation is required

Transferring Credits

AP, IB, CLEP and credit for other courses/exams taken

Advanced Placement (AP)

Credit is granted for AP exam scores of 4 or 5 in most subjects; scores of 3 are accepted in some areas. Please consult our complete AP chart (PDF). To receive credit, either submit your official AP Score Report from the College Board with your application for admission, or once admitted/enrolled, submit your official score report from the College Board directly to the Office of Transfer Affairs.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

If you have completed International Baccalaureate (IB) coursework and received a score of 5 or greater on higher level IB exams, you may be eligible for transfer credit (UVM does not award credit for standard level IB exams). It is not necessary to have completed the entire IB curriculum to qualify for transfer credit. Please consult our IB Guide.

Please submit an official IB transcript along with your application for admission. Up to one year of introductory level credit may be awarded in a discipline. If you are admitted to UVM and have questions about IB credit review, please contact the Office of Transfer Affairs.

College credit taken in high school

College level coursework completed in high school may be eligible for transfer credit. Coursework must be through a regionally accredited, degree-granting college or university and may be taught within a high school setting; an example of a high school-based program is the Syracuse University Project Advance Program (SUPA). Please submit all official transcripts of college coursework along with your application; transcripts will be reviewed upon admission to the university.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Students taking College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams may receive transfer credit, provided a similar course of study was not attempted at the college level. The credit award depends on the year you took the exam as well as your score. A minimum score for most exams is 50 (comparable to a grade of C). To see how CLEP scores are awarded at UVM, please consult the CLEP Comparability Guide (PDF).

Credit for CLEP exams may be applied toward distribution requirements and toward total semester hours when approved by the dean of the UVM college to which you have been admitted. To receive credit, an official score report must be sent directly by the College Board to UVM's Office of Transfer Affairs. Transcripts from other institutions displaying your CLEP scores cannot be used to award credit. For information about how to order an official score report, please contact the College Board.

Credit for international post-secondary examinations

Due to the rigorous nature of some international educational systems, the following exams may also be eligible for transfer credit:

Advanced-Level General Certificate of Education Examinations of the British Examination Councils (A-levels)

German Abitur

Colleges d' Enseignement General et Professional (CEGEP) in Quebec, Canada: Only the second and third years of CEGEP are eligible for transfer credit; the first year is not eligible.

Scottish Certificate of Sixth Year Studies: Students must earn a pass of A, B, or C.